Wheeled floor jacks



L. L. ARNES ETAL WHEELED FLOOR- JACKS May 4, 1965 Filed Sept. 12, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. A. flrrres.

May 4, 1965 ARNES ETAL WHEELED FLOOR JACKS Filed Sept. 12, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,181,836 WHEELED FLOOR JACKS Lyle L. Arnes, Racine, and James R. Uhen, Burlington, Wis., assignors to Walker Manufacturing Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 223,107 3 Claims. (Cl. 254-8) This invention relates to wheeled floor jacks and, more particularly, to improvements in the sideplates thereof.

Heretofore, the sideplates or side frame members of jacks of this type have been made of cast malleable iron. While such sideplates have been generally satisfactory, certain penalties were incurred in their use, such as the high per-pound cost of the material, the weight, the high cost of subsequent straightening and machining operations, and the wear on the malleable iron holes constituting the bearings for the movable parts of the jack.

The sideplates of jacks of this type support, directly or indirectly, all of the other major parts of the jack. All forces created by the load on the lifting cap, the pumping motion of the jack handle, the interaction of the power unit and the 'bellcrank, and the reaction between the wheels and the ground are either absorbed by or transmitted to the sideplates.

The bellcrank applies a center load on the sideplates which becomes a center loaded beam, and the front and rear wheels form the end supports for the beam. There is also a torsional load induced by the rear wheels, which are cantilevered outward from the sideplates, and an axial load created by the interaction of the power unit and the bellcrank.

It will be apparent, therefore, that the resultant loading on the sideplates is rather complex and of considerable magnitude, being a combination of bending, torsion, and tension. The sideplates are literaly the backbones of the jack.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide improved sideplates comprising stamped steel sections or panels, substantially U-shaped in cross section, welded into a box-like structure, to provide reduced production costs, weight reduction, and improved load carrying properties.

Another object of this invention is to improve and simplify the manner or method of fabricating the sideplates. The panels are blanked and pierced in a common die and are separately flanged to form inner and outer panels. The two panels, two support plates and the bearing bushings are built into a loose sandwich. The panels form the outer shell, with their flanges touching, and the support plates and bushings are encased therein. The bushings have large diameter center portions and reduced shouldered ends. The shouldered ends of the bushings protrude through holes in the panels, and the large diameter center sections of the bushings act as spacers between the panels. Only the ends of the bushings will fit in the matching holes in the panels.

The protruding ends of the bushings are then struck with hollow punches to effectively rivet the entire assembly together. Thus, the assembly is held together for a subsequent welding operation. With the sideplate in this assembled condition, a seam exists around the entire periphery thereof. This seam is then welded at selected points to unitize the structure and to impart the desired rigidity thereto.

Sideplates fabricated as described above show important cost savings over the previous cast designs. Also, a marked savings in weight is realized resulting in lower shipping costs. Functionally, these sideplates provide greater resilience under twisting loads and the steel bearing bushings have better wear characteristics than the malleable iron holes. Moreover, with this construction, it is possible to provide the sideplates with smooth, modern lines which enhance the overall appearance of the jack.

The various objects and advantages, and the novel details of construction of one commercially practical embodiment of the invention, will become more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of a wheeled floor jack embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the jack;

FIGURE 3 is a rear or end elevation with certain of the jack parts omitted;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a pair of sideplates constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of one of the side plates;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of one of the sideplates;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken substanbers constituting the subject matter of this invention find particular utility is in connection with the type of wheeled floor jack illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2. However, inasmuch as the particular type of jack forms no part of this invention, its structure will be but briefly described.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the jack comprises a pair of spaced sideplates or frame members 10, a pivotally mounted handle assembly 11, a power unit 12, a bellcrank 13, parallel links 14, and a lifting cap 15. The front of the jack is supported on wheels 16 mounted on an axle 17 passing through aligned apertures 18 in the front end of the sideplates 10. The rear wheels 19 are in the form of casters mounted on caster brackets 20 welded or otherwise secured to the outer sides of the. pair of sideplates 10, as shown in FIGURE 3. As shown in FIGURE 3, these rear wheels 19 are cantilevered outwardly from the sideplates, whereas the front wheels 16 are arranged closer to the sideplates, see FIGURE 1.

As indicated previously herein, the invention relates to the sideplates 1i and to the manner of fabricating them. As shown in FIGURES 4, 5, 7 and 8, each sideplate comprises a pair of stamped steel sections or panels 30. These panels are blanked and pierced in a common die and are separately flanged to form opposed flange portions 31, thus forming inner and outer panels. The flanges 31 extend entirely around the periphery of each panel and are adapted to engage one another in abutting relation when the panels are assembled to form the sideplates, as shown in FIGURES 7 and 8.

Each sideplate is shown as provided with four bushings or bushing members 32, 33, 34 and 35, one purpose of which is to form bearings for the operating parts of the jack. Similar bushings are provided in each of the pair of sideplates 10. The bushings 32 form the bearings for the pivot pin of the handle 11. The bushings 33 form the bearings for receiving the trunnions 12a of the power unit 12. The bushings 34 form the bearings for the pivot pins carried by the lbellcrank 13 and the bushings 35 are 7 provided with trunnion pins 36 which receive and form bearings for the ends of the parallel links 14.

As shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, each bushing has a large diameter center portion 37 with reduced shouldered ends 38. The shouldered ends 38 of the bushings protrude through apertures in the panels, and the large diameter center sections of the bushings act as spacers between the panels. Only the ends of the bushings will fit the matching apertures in the panels. After the panels are Patented Vi /lay 4, 1965 CO assembled, the protruding ends of the bushings are struck with hollow punches to upset the same to form rivet heads 39 to effectively rivet the entire assembly together. Thus, the assembly is held together for a subsequent welding operation. In this connection, it should be noted that the shoulders 370 formed by the large diameter center portions of the bushings properly space the panels with the flanges 31 in abutting relation and locate these panels for the riveting operation.

Two identical blanked and pierced support plates 49 are assembled with and secured in place by the shoulders 37a on the bushings 34 and 35, as shown in FIGURES 4, and 7. These plates distribute the load between the bellcrank and parallel link bushings 34 and 35 and reduce local stresses on the sideplate panels in these areas.

The manner of assembling and fabricating the sideplates will, it is believed, be apparent. The two panels 3%, the two support plates 4t) and the bearing bushings 32, 33, 34 and 35, are built into a loose sandwich. The panels form the outer shell with their flanges 31 touching and the support plates 49 and the bushings 32, 33, 34 and 35 are enclosed therein. As stated previously, the large diameter portions 37 of the bushings with the shoulders 37a act as spacers between the panels and the reduced end portions of the bushings extend through correspondingly sized apertures in the panels. To facilitate assembly, only the ends of the bushings will fit in the matching apertures in the panels. This initial assembling, with the aid of a fixture, is done on the bed of press, in preparation for the next operation. The protruding ends of the bushings are then struck with hollow punches which shear enough metal to form the rivet heads 39 which secure the entire assembly together. All four bushings may be riveted with one blow of the press. With the sideplates in this assembled condition, a seam 321a exists around the entire periphery of the sideplates. This seam is then welded at selected points to unitize the structure and to impart the desired rigidity thereto.

As shown in FlGURES 4 and 5, the seam in each sideplate is preferably welded in the areas indicated by the reference characters 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 5t} and 51, although, obviously the seam may be Welded in any other selected areas or entirely around the periphery of the sideplates, if desired.

As shown in FIGURE 5, each caster bracket 20 is preferably welded to the sideplate in the areas indicated by the reference characters 52, 53, and 54, although, obviously, other areas for Welding might be selected.

Sideplates constructed and fabricated in accordance with this invention provide the advantages of reduced production costs, weight reduction over previously used malleable iron frame members, and improved load-carrying properties. Also, these sideplates are functionally superior because they provide greater resilience under twisting loads. Moreover, the steel bearing bushings have better wear characteristics than the malleable iron holes in the frame members of the prior art. Also, with this construction it is possible to provide the sideplates with smooth, modern lines which enhance the overall appearance of the jack.

While one commercially practical embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated herein somewhat in detail, it will be understood that various changes may be made as may come within the purview of the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a jack having side frame members and movable jack actuating parts pivotally supported thereon, that improvement which comprises, a pair of laterally spaced sideplates constituting said frame members, each sideplate comprising a pair of sheet metal panels having opposed peripheral flanges abutting to form a box-like structure, a plurality of bushing members adapted to provide bearings for said movable jack parts, each bushing member being located within said box-like structure and being provided with reduced shouldered ends protruding outwardly through apertures in said panels with the shoulders thereof engaging the inner surfaces of said panels to space the same with the flanges of the panels abutting, the protruding reduced ends of said bushing members being upset to form rivets to initially hold said panels in assembled relation for a subsequent welding operation, and welds along the seam between said abutting peripheral flanges to rigidly secure said panels together.

2. A structure as described in claim 1 in which support plates are provided adjacent certain bushing members, said support plates being apertured to engage the reduced ends of said bushing members and being held in place by the shoulders on said bushing members.

3. A structure as described in claim 1 comprising identically blanked and pierced panels, and flanges on said panels to form inner and outer panels, and the protruding reduced ends of the bushing members being simultaneously upset to form the rivets.

References Cited by the Examiner UNlTED STATES PATENTS 844.944 2/07 Jacobs. 1,527,542 2/25 Earhart 254-1 2,189,719 2/40 Wallace 280106 2,767,877 10/56 Newsom. 3,110,069 11/63 Jones.

FOREIGN PATENTS 844,662 4/39 France. 521,141 1/56 Canada.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A JACK HAVING SIDE FRAME MEMBERS AND MOVABLE JACK ACTUATING PARTS PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED THEREON, THAT IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES, A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED SIDEPLATES CONSTITUTING SAID FRAME MEMBERS, SIDEPLATE COMPRISING A PAIR OF SHEET METAL PANELS HAVING OPPOSED PERIPHERAL FLANGES ABUTTING TO FORM A BOX-LIKE STRUCTURE, A PLURALITY OF BUSHING MEMBERS ADAPTED TO PROVIDE BEARINGS FOR SAID MOVABLE JACK PARTS, EACH BUSHING MEMBER BEING LOCATED WITHIN SAID BOX-LIKE STRUCTURE AND BEING PROVIDED WITH REDUCED SHOULDERED ENDS PROTRUDING OUTWARDLY THROUGH APERTURES IN SAID PANELS WITH THE SHOULDERS THEREOF ENGAGING THE INNER SURFACES OF SAID PANELS TO SPACE THE SAME WITH THE FLANGES OF THE PANELS ABUTTING, THE PROTRUDING REDUCED ENDS OF SAID BUSHING MEMBERS BEING UPSET TO FORM RIVETS TO INITIALLY HOLD SAID PANELS ON ASSEMBLED RELATION FOR A SUBSEQUENT WELDING OPERATION, AND WELDS ALONG THE SEAM BETWEEN SAID ABUTTING PERIPHERAL FLANGES TO RIGIDLY SECURE SAID PANELS TOGETHER. 